Both the TDP chief Chandra Babu Naidu and the YSR Congress chief Y S Jaganmohan Reddy are maintaining strategic silence over the Telangana issue at a time when there is hectic talk about an imminent announcement on the new state.

Despite feelers from Delhi that the Congress High Command has been doing a serious exercise on the issue, both the TRS and the BJP are still not trusting the ruling party. Congress leaders of the two regions are expressing two divergent opinions.

However leaders of both the regions of both TDP and the YSR Congress are maintaining silence, considered strategic. They are neither welcoming nor condemning the development.

It has been the practice of the leaders of Seemandhra region to oppose state bifurcation whenever the issue came to the fore. Leaders like Payyavula Keshav of TDP had even talked aggressively against state division earlier. But surprisingly even such vocal leaders are maintaining silence now.

It is learnt that both Jagan and Chandra Babu Naidu had directed leaders of both the regions to maintain silence as a matter of strategy. According to sources, Chandrababu is of the view that taking a decision on the Telangana issue would not be easy for the Congress party and it was unnecessary for his party to comment one way or the other at this juncture. He is taking this precaution as he does not want the decision of the Congress to impact the prospects of his own party. He wants Congress to take the full responsibility and impact of whatever the decision it may take on the contentious issue. He aims at getting benefited in both the regions because of the decision of the Congress party, say observers.

Meanwhile, the YSR Congress honorary president Y S Vijayamma has also started adopting a very cautious approach during the Telangana leg of her tour of the state to strengthen the party and prepare it for the local body elections. She has been stating that her party has respect for the sentiments of the Telangana people and it was the responsibility of the central government to resolve this issue. Excepting her, none else is talking about the Telangana issue. It is learnt that Jagan also gave clear instructions to his party leaders not to meddle with the Telangana issue and turn it unnecessarily contentious.